How to use the floating keyboard on Galaxy S9 and S9+ with Android Pie update?

In Android Pie update for Galaxy S9 and S9+, Samsung keyboard can be in floating mode, and therefore, you can put the keyboard anywhere on the screen and use the floating keyboard on Galaxy S9 and S9+.

The floating keyboard on Galaxy S9 and S9+ with Android Pie update works on all apps, once enabled.

What is the floating keyboard on Galaxy S9 and S9+ with Android Pie update?

By default, Samsung keyboard or keypad is fixed on the bottom of the Galaxy S9 or S9+ regardless of the orientation (portrait or landscape) of the phone, just like in other Android phones. The screen area occupied by the keyboard will not be used by the app.

How to enable the floating keyboard on Galaxy S9 and S9+ with Android Pie update?

By default, the floating mode of the Samsung keyboard is not enabled. If you want to use the floating keyboard, you need to enable it when the keyboard is shown,

Once enabled, the floating mode will be the default mode for the Samsung keyboard until you change the keyboard mode again. In other words, you need to enable the floating keyboard only once in any apps. It will then work in all other apps automatically.

For example, as shown in the screenshot below, in Google search, the keyboard is waiting for your input.

Tap the down arrow (▼) button to open Samsung keyboard options.

In Samsung keyboard options, as shown above, tap Modes.

By default, Samsung Keyboard can work in three modes:

Standard keyboard (default, fixed in the screen). In Android Pie update for Galaxy S9 and S9+, you can resize the keyboard as explained in this guide (coming soon).

One-handed keyboard.

Floating keyboard.

Tap Floating keyboard as shown below.

Now, as shown in the screenshot above, the keyboard is detached from the bottom (navigation bar) of the screen with a handle on the bottom.

The keyboard is now floating over the apps you are using. You can relocate to anywhere on the screen.

Of course, if a keyboard is not needed, the floating keyboard will disappear automatically (just like the standard keyboard).

How to use and customize the floating keyboard on Galaxy S9 and S9+ with Android Pie update?

You can use the handle to move the floating keyboard on the screen as you want.

You can also customize the floating keyboard on Galaxy S9 and S9+ by:

Resizing the floating keyboard.

Adjusting the transparency of the floating keyboard.

In Android Pie update for Galaxy S9 and S9+, you can resize standard keyboard (and the one-handed keyboard) as well. But transparency settings are for floating keyboard only as explained in this guide (coming soon).

Tap the down arrow (▼) button as shown below.

Then taps mode (not shown here).

Now, you see the floating keyboard is active.

Tap Size and transparency as shown above.

Subsequently, you can find the size and transparency settings as shown below.

The 3 white dots in the blue borderlines are handles for you to change the size.

If you drag then outwards, the keyboard will be enlarged. If you drag them inwards, the size will be smaller.

You can also drag the transparency slider as shown above to adjust the transparency of the floating keyboard.

By default, the transparency of the floating keyboard is 0% (opaque). You cannot see the app contents behind the keyboard.

If you drag the slider to the right side, you can see the app content below the floating keyboard.

After customizing the floating keyboard on Galaxy S9 or S9+, you must tap Done to save the customization. Otherwise, the customization will be discarded automatically.

If you mess up the settings for the floating keyboard on Galaxy S9 or S9+ with Android Pie update, you may tap Reset to clear all saved customizations and reset the floating keyboard.

Please note, Samsung keyboard theme is affected by the night mode. Once the night mode is enabled, the background color of the Samsung keyboard will change accordingly. You cannot disable this feature.

For official Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9+ user manuals in your language, you may check this page (if your Galaxy S9 or S(+ is running Android Oreo), or this page (if your Galaxy S9 and S9+ have got the Android Pie update).

Detailed how-to guides for new features of Android Pie update for Galaxy S9 and S9+ be found on this page.